-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Could there be an American team in Formula One for the first time in more than 25 years ?

NASCAR team co-owner Gene Haas has thrown his hat into the ring to enter a new team into the F1 world championship .

Last month the sport 's governing body , the FIA , asked prospective entrants to make `` an expression of interest '' to join the grid as a 12th team for the start of the 2015 or 2016 season .

Haas , who co-owns Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series , said Friday that he has answered the call .

`` We have responded to the FIA 's ` call for expression of interest ' regarding a Formula One entry on behalf of Haas Racing Development , '' the American businessman said in a statement .

`` We respect the FIA 's evaluation process and will share more details in the coming weeks . ''

Haas has already tasted success in the premier U.S. racing series when the Stewart-Haas Team , which he founded with three-time Sprint Cup champion driver Tony Stewart , won the 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship .

F1 last expanded the grid in 2010 when three new teams joined . Of the trio , two are still racing in their current guises -- Caterham and Marussia .

The Spanish Hispania -LRB- HRT -RRB- team withdrew from the sport at the end of 2012 because of financial difficulties .

The last U.S. backed team ran a limited number of races during the 1985 and 1986 seasons under the Lola-Hart moniker .

Other American teams to enter the sport include Eagle , which debuted in 1966 , Shadow and Penkse , both of which raced in the 1970s .

The USF1 team launched an unsuccessful bid to join F1 for the 2010 season after difficulties securing financial backing .

The FIA had given parties interesting in joining F1 until January 3 2014 to register their interest but it is not yet known whether there are any other prospective entries .

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NASCAR co-owner registers interest in entering a new team in Formula One

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Gene Haas says he has responded to the FIA 's call for new teams in 2015 or 2016

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Haas co-owns a NASCAR team with champion racer Tony Stewart

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The last U.S. funded F1 team ran in 1986 under the Lola-Hart moniker